Some Palestinians up in arms over weapons proliferation
The Palestinian Authority is being criticized for failing to end the spread of weapons among citizens in the West Bank, where family disputes often end tragically.
Palestinians have been plagued in recent weeks by a series of shootings in the West Bank — a clear sign of weapons proliferation.
Armed clashes among families and tribes were to blame for many shootings in May, including six in Nablus and one each in Sebastia and Salem, all on May 19; one incident in Hebron between two families in mid-May lasted several days. On May 22, armed family violence broke out in al-Eizariya and in al-Fara refugee camp. Authorities also have been targeted.
![Palestinian teenagers handle a nine millimeter semi-automatic pistol in the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem January 4, 2001. The Dheisheh refugee camp hosts thousands of Palestinian refugees since the 1948 Israeli occupation. [Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat began consulting Arab leaders in Cairo on Thursday on U.S. President Bill Clinton's peace proposals before announcing whether he accepts them. ] - RTXK7RJ](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/07/RTXK7RJ.jpg/RTXK7RJ.jpg?h=5021389d&itok=mIEOk2j_)
